In the Central:Chicago has the first spot clinched, as well as the overall western #1 seed. They will face whomever finishes in the 2nd wild card spot (currently Nashville). Not much mystery there.

Minnesota is currently 2nd with 100 points, and it looks like that will probably hold up, setting up a first-round matchup with the 3rd seed (currently St. Louis). Mathematically, it is possible for the Blues to pass them if the Blues win every remaining game and the Wild lose every remaining game. If that somehow happens, it still sets up a MIN-STL first-round matchup, but the Blues would have home ice. Obviously this situation is unlikely since all the Wild need to do to clinch 2nd is to win any of their remaining 3 games.

St. Louis currently sits in 3rd, and are only 2 points ahead of Nashville, but do have one game in hand and an easier schedule. If the Blues win and Preds lose tonight, the Blues clinch 3rd place- the best Nashville could do after that is tie us, and the Blues hold the ROW tiebreaker. 3rd place is not a lock, but I like our chances.

Nashville, having been pushed out of the top three in the Central, sits in the 2nd wild card spot, because Calgary has one more point (and thus the 1st wild card). Both teams have 3 games remaining. The 1st wild card will face the winner of the Pacific Division, the 2nd wild card faces the Blackhawks.

In the Pacific: 4 points separates 1st place from 3rd place, with all teams having 3-4 games remaining. A lot of flux could still happen here.

Anaheim has a 2-point lead for 1st place, setting them up for a matchup with the 1st wild card, currently Calgary.

Right on their heels, 2 points back with 1 game in hand is Edmonton, of all teams.2 points behind Edmonton is San Jose, having dropped down from 1st place in the Pacific following a 2-8 run in their last 10 games. It is mathematically possible for the Sharks to regain the Pacific lead, but unlikely, so they will probably finish in one of those middle spots.

4th place is Calgary, only 3 points behind San Jose, both teams with 3 games remaining. At this point, unless the Sharks completely blow it the rest of the way, Calgary should probably be more concerned about holding on to the 1st wild card spot in order to avoid falling to the 2nd wild card and a first-round date with Chicago.

Of note: if the current standings hold, both divisional playoffs will be entirely within their respective divisions. The 2 wild card teams will play the 1st place team in their own division. I like it.

-Minnesota locked up 2nd in the Central with their win over Carolina (and the Blues loss--either one did it for them).

-Nashville lost in OT, so the new magic number is 3 points.

-Calgary is currently losing in Anaheim. If they go onto lose, our magic number over them would also be 3 points should Nashville somehow catch us. Although, if Nashville catches us, Calgary is in pretty good shape to do so as well.

_________________2010-2011 Official LGB Sponsor of Kevin Shattenkirk2016-2017 Official LGB Sponsor of Dmitri Jaskin2017-2018 Official LGB Sponsor of Jake Allen

The Blues remain one point ahead of Nashville for 3rd. Both teams play tonight against non-playoff teams. The Blues can clinch 3rd if they win tonight AND Nashville either loses in regulation or OT/SO. If Nashville gets two points tonight, we can't clinch 3rd place until next game.

For wild cards, both Calgary and Nashville are tied for points and have the same number of games remaining. Nashville faces Dallas and Winnipeg in its last 2 games, while Calgary faces LA and San Jose. Advantage to Nashville on there. Calgary does hold the ROW tiebreaker in case they finish with the same point total.

In the Pacific, Anaheim has a 4-point lead over Edmonton and San Jose, so it is looking like they will finish first, though not mathematically clinched yet.

EDM and SJ are tied, but the Oilers have a game in hand. Remaining games for the Oilers are Sharks (kind of a big game tonight) and a home-and-home against Vancouver. San Jose faces Edmonton and Calgary. Advantage Oilers, but you never know- with these matchups, a lot can change. Expect to see playoff hockey in these last couple regular-season games.

In the Central, St. Louis and Nashville both won last night, so the Blues remain 1 point ahead for 3rd place. Since Nashville only has 1 game left to play, if they win and finish with 96 points, all the Blues have to do in their last two games is earn 1 point or more to tie or beat the Preds. If Nashville loses their last game (Saturday at Winnipeg), the Blues automatically clinch 3rd no matter what.

In the Pacific, standings are still not mathematically set. Anaheim looks like a lock to win 1st, but again, it's not completely set in stone. If Anaheim loses its last game and Edmonton wins its last two, the Oilers would finish 1st (craziness). Same thing with San Jose and Edmonton fighting for 2nd- if the Oilers lose their last two and the Sharks win their last game, San Jose would finish 2nd and Edmonton 3rd.

For the wild cards, Nashville and Calgary are again tied for points, but Calgary holds the ROW tiebreaker for the 1st wild card. This one will come down to the last game for both teams- Nashville vs. Winnipeg and Calgary vs. San Jose. High stakes for all involved.

Lots of drama packed into these last 1-2 games for a lot of Western Conference teams. Fortunately, the Blues have the easiest road with games against Carolina and Colorado. Bottom line- if we earn 1 point either of those two games, we finish 3rd and face the Wild in Round 1.

Anaheim and Edmonton are both still playing as I type. If Anaheim gets a point, they win the Pacific and face Calgary. If they lose and Edmonton wins, Edmonton wins the Pacific and faces fellow Canadian team Calgary (it's a conspiracy to eliminate the Canadian teams as soon as possible, didn't you know)? Loser faces the Sharks.

Who is online

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot post attachments in this forum

www.letsgoblues.com is a fan site. The opinions expressed on this site in no way reflect the opinions of the St. Louis Blues hockey club or the National Hockey League. All images and articles displayed on this site remain property of the respective owners unless otherwise noted.